Metallic shelving



Jan. 17, 1928.

A. DAVIS ET AL METALLI C SHELVING ATYORNEY Jan. 17, 1928. 1,656,868

\ A. DAvls ET AL METALLIC SHELVING Filed June 20. 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 N VEN -TOR. GWW

YGGWSW Patented Jan. 17, 1928.

`UNITED STATES l.ALBERT DAVIS \AND PATENT OFFICE.

ARCI-IIE A; SHERER, OF DAYTON, 011110, ASSIYGNQR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS,`TO SAID ARCHE A. SHERER.

` METALLIC SHELVING.

Application filed June 20, 1921.- `Serial-No. 478,979.

Our invention relates to metallic shelving and storage bins for factories, Warehouses,`

i stores and supply depots.

vThe bins forming the subjectv mattei` hereof are adapted to be arranged in stacks by superposing the bins one upon theA other,

or in` combination with shelving or other storage units. The bin units are preferably formed from sheet metal and have integrally united bottom, back, side `and top- Walls which aftordno crevices or openings forvthe loss of small parts. Such bin'units have l front Walls extending to a mid-'height point.

It is frequently desirable 'for storage ofV small parts todividel the bin into a plurality ofcompartments.H To this end means ispro- Vvided. forremovably mounting Within the bin units partitionsWhichfextend from the toprtothe bottom Aand interlocking Suchpar-` titions against displacement.

The'object of the present invention is to simplify the structure as Well as the means and mode of manufacture of storage bin units and the manner of dividing such units into separate compartments whereby they Will not'only be cheapened in construction, but the partitions may be more conveniently, easily and quickly installed and securely held against displacement.

A further object of the invention is to provide bin units `complete in themselves affording containers for small parts and to further provide relatively adjustable parti-` tions dividingr suchbins into compartments. A further ob]ect of the inventlon is to provide improved means for engaging and holding removable partitions in fixed spaced relation one 'with the other Within `the bin unit.

` With the above primary andother incidental objects 1n view as Will more fully appear in the specification, the invention` consists of the features of construction, the Vparts and combinations thereof, land the mode of'operation, or'their-equivalents, as

hereinafter described and set forth in the claims.`

In the drawings, ywherein is shown the preferred but obviously 'not necessarilyy the only embodiment of theinvention, Fig. l represents a stack of the units or sections, part of which are bin units and the re'- inainder of which are shelving units. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional vievvthrough several units forming theA subject matter hereofA ling-S. .i

and 4t are perspective viewsrof two disconnected units showing the interengaging top and bottom surfaces thereof. Fig. 5 is a detaiivievv showing the relation of the slotted openings for` the interconnecting bolts engaging `units side by side. Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view of a modificationinvolving embossed top and bottom Walls.

Fig. 7 is a detail perspective vevv of aportionof the front wall of a bin unit disconnected therefrom. Fig. v8 is a detailperspective view of one of the spacer members .for a series of bin partitions. Fig. 9 is a`detail perspective view illustrating a modifica-tion of the mode of engaging the removable partition with the unit." Figs. 10 and l-'l a'rede` tail perspective views of the `separated-engag'ing means for the partition `shovvri in ig. 9.

Like parts are indicated by similar characters of reference throughout the several vieWs.` l

The sheet metal units or sections 1-1 each comprise a complete box-like enclosure having integrally united top Wall 2, 4bottom 3, back 4r, andend Walls 5, the unit being open on its' front or vertical side. Such box like unit may be formed `from a single sheet 4metal blank folded and bent to the proper oneflange overlapping vthe Walls 2 and 5 of the unitQWhile the other flange -overhangs the opening giving a `finishedappearance as Well as strength Vand stability,to the unit. As a. further-reinforcement and toprovide an interlock for the next succeeding unit, each unit is provided on its top surface, adjacent to the rear end with ail longitudinally disposed flat bar 7, having inturned ends 8. coincident lwith the ends :of the unit or section. These inturned ends 8 may beintegral with the reinforcement bars 7, but for economy and convenience of manufacture,

they are preferably separate sections or short hars attached to the top surface of the unit by electric welding between which the longitudinally disposed flat bar T is secured l1ke- 5 wise by electric welding or other suitable Wardlyirom the 'frame (i.`

` In order to interengage each superposedV unit with the one beneath, to prevent side slip and insure the vertical alinernent of the sections, each unit or section 1s provided on itsbotom surface; with two parallel spaced bars l0 and 11. These bars 1D and 11 are somewhatv shorter than the length ot the unit, being ot such length as to be capable o'j being seated between the end stops 8 and .9

on the top of the preceding unit and also being spaced inwardly from the-front and rear edges of the unit a sutlicent distance to clear the angle bar traine 6 and the reinforcement bar 7a In other words, the angle bar traine G together with thejparallel bar engage;

7 at the rear ot the unit and the end stop 8 torni on the top of each unit a marginal frame or seat within which the bars 10 and 11 on the bottom of the superposed unit Itis obvious that in lieu of attaching separate bars and end stops as the bars 7, 10 and 11 and end stops `8 and 9. the top and bottom ot the unit may be embossed or 36 pressed to afford interlocking shoulders on the interengaging units or sections, shown y yat 7", 8', 9 and l1 in Fig. t3; i The unit or section when used yas a stor age bin for articles which will not conven` iently retain their place upon the shelf, or whichare to bestored in considerable quant tity the bottom portion 3 is extended up.- wardlyto partially close the open face ot the unit or section and form a partial front wall for the unit, asis shown at 14. In such case the top edge of this front wall is likewise nislied with a roll or bead 15 `which protects against'the 'aw edge oi' the metal and Vaitords a neat, pleasing and tinished appearance aswell as strengthens the front wall. In lieu of extending the bottom section upwardlyand thus forming the `ironty wall 14; and `bottoni 3 integrally the .front wall le may be a separate sectionhaving a flangedV lower edge 16 insertable beneath the bottom 3 and inturned ends or earsl insertable within the end walls 5 ot the unit. The separate `front wall section is then secured byfelectriewelding the ears or inturned ends 17 to the end 5 of theunit4 and the .under turned flange 16 to the bot-` tom 3. y 'i Inasmuch as it is frequently desired to dithere is permanently secured to the rear 'all l a spacer bar comprising a strip of sheet metal 18, having therein a crimp or channel 19. The crimp or channel ol? this spacer bar is vintersccted by a plurality ot .spaced slots 20, for the engagement therein ot removable partition walls 21, also of sheet metal. rit the front otl the unit just within the partial front Wall ld is provided a second spacer bar Q2, similar in torni and con struction to the spaced bar 1S, having therein a like crimp or channel intel-sented by cuts or slots with the difference, however,

`that the spaced bar 22 at the iront oit the `partition `walls by applying it thereto with the wall engaging the proper notches or slots at points above the iront Wall la of the bin unit. When properly engaged, the front removable spacer bar 22 is then pressed downward within `the front partial wall 111 where the resiliency of the spacer member due to its crimped or channel torni enables it to lirmly engage the front wall under tension. inasmuch as this spacer bar is of a length which is substantially equivalent to that ot the unit, the partition walls are firmly supported against displacement.

To interlock the sections side by side each unit is provided in one end wall 5 with a vertically disposed slot 23 and in the oppo site end wall is a horizontally disposed slot 24. lli'hen two sections are placed end to end, these slots 23 and 2d extend trans versely one across the other, and the units are interengaged by tie bolts passed thru the registering portions oi the slots.

In assembling the structure, the' units are placedoneuiion the other to 'tornia stack ot the desired height and a succession ol. such staclis are built sido by each, the correspending units beingintercrninccted by Such tie bolts 25. y

Each stach of units is preferably mounted npon abase unit 26, rl"his unit comprises a suitable trame or low borM like structure, having on the top surface thereof, locking bars and stops similar to those of the unit or sectionl that is to say, the bar T and end stopsS and 9 and at the trout end a meinber corresponding to thetrame bar 6, with in which the bars l() and 11 of the lower most unit seat. t

While the units or sections shown in Fig. 1, are allot the saine depth 'from iront to back, it is obvious that these units may be .made ot' dil'l'erentV depth well as ot' ditl'cr ent heights. Each unit being complete in tl il titi iportion to the height of unit. y usually most convenient to make the front itself'and forming a completetight closure, permits the storage Aof small parts Without danger of intermixing or losing them.

In Figs. 9, 10, and ll there is shown a modification of the partition spacers blyV Which the removable partitions are sup-` ported in the bin. In this construction, therer are secured to the inner face of the fro nt partial Wall 14 of the bin vertically disposed channels on having inturlned or o verhanging lateral flanges 34. Slidingly adpistable within these channel members 33 and engageable beneath the inturned overhang-V ing flanges Bil are T-shaped retainers 35 the medially projecting portions 3G of Which are bifurcated or split longitudinally to straddle the partition 21 to be engaged thereby. T he members 33 being fixedly attached to the 1nside of the Wall, the co-acting member 35 is applied to the edge of the partition 2l above the edge of the front Wall 14 as shown in Fig. 9 and then slid downwardly behind the Wall 14 Where the laterally projecting flanges of the retainer 35 engaged beneath the'inturned flanges 34: of the member` 33, thus detachably holding the partition 2l in upright spaced position. This construction enables any one of the partitions to be removed Without disturbing other partitions of the same unit or bin. Label holders 37 comprising strips of sheet metal having their longitudinal edges inturned one to- Ward the other are attached to the forward faces of the bin or to the ledges 27 of the shelf. The identifying label is slipped Within such holder beneath the inturned overhanding marginal flanges. At the bottom of Fig. l a` unit has been shown provided with hinged doors thus illustrating that the units may be converted into cupboard or closet as Well as shelves and bins. To improve the appearance of the stack or unit a top section 39 may be provided which rests upon the uppermost of the stack of units giving to the stack a finished appearance. This top section 39 interloclrs with the preceedingy unit in the same manner that one unit inter locks with another, as heretofore described.

The units heretofore described are coniplete in themselves, having continuous walls and forming tight compartments capable of retaining the smallest part Without loss or leakage.

It will be understood that the front walls 14 of the bin will vary in height and pro- It is found partial Walls 14 approximately one third of the entire height of the unit. However, these proportions may be varied as may also the dimensions heretofore mentioned, which are given merely for illustrative purposes and not with the intent of prescribing or limiting the sizes of the units.

From the above description it Will be advantages.

apparent that there is thus provided a dcvice of the character described possessing the particular features of `advantage before enumerated as desirable, but which obviously is susceptible of modification inits form,

proportions, detail construct-ion and arrangeprinciple involved or sacrificingany vof its lVhile in order to comply with the statute the invention has been described 1n language more or less specific as to structural features,

it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific details shown, but that the means and construction herein disclosed comprise but one of several modes of putting the invention into eect, and the invention is therefore claimed in any of its forms or modifications Within the legitimate and valid scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, We

claim:

and a separate removable spacer bar also having therein a series of spaced notches, said last mentioned spacer bar being engageable with said partitions by adjusting the notches thereover in the access opening of the unit and thereafter sliding the spacer bar downward behind the upstanding flange.

2. In a storage unit, metallic box like ref ceptacle, complete in itself, having continuons top, bottom, back and end ivalls united one With another, and having an access opening in its front face, and upstanding flange at the bottom of said access opening, a series of adjustable partitions therein, spacer bars at the front and rear of the unit engageable with thepartitions, one of said spacer bars being detachably engageable behind said upstanding flange. i y l 3. In a storage unit, a bin having depth greater than its access opening, a separable partition insertable throughthe access opening, and a spacer bar having therein a vertical slot to receive the partition, and engageable with the partition Within the access opening, and slidable thereon into engagement with the bin below the access opening.

4. In a storage unit, a container, a removable partition for the container, and a slotted spacer member independent of the partition slidable between the Wall of the container and the marginal edge of the partition, the slot of which the partition has ment of parts Without'departing from the llO cngngen'lent to prevent lateral displacement ol the partition.

5. In a storage unit, a bin having an access opening' and an npstnnding Wall beion7 the access opening@ partition located Within the bln. and pioJecting above the upstandlng engngenble Within the access opening, said spacer bal' being elirlnhle behind tlm up 1D standing Walt While engaged with the pantition.

n testimony whereof, We have hereunto `eet our hands this 11th day of June,` A. D.

ALBERT DAVIS. Anemia A. SHERER. 

